Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Detours That Destroy (Part 1) | May 19, 2026
- Join us on the "pathway to victory"
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- Journeys of paul cruise,
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- May 14 through 23, 2027.
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- You know what i love most about these journeys?
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- It's not just the destinations,
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- ♪ music ♪
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- From the pulpit of the first baptist church
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- Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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- With dr. robert jeffress.
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- Hi, i'm robert jeffress
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- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- The writer of hebrews compares the christian life
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- To a race and if you've ever run a marathon,
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- Then you know how tempting shortcuts can look.
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- Today i'm going to give you a warning.
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- While we run the race that god has planned for us,
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- There are two dangerous detours that we must avoid
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- Because they're guaranteed to distract us
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- From the finish line.
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- My message is titled, "detours that destroy"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ music ♪
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- Each day millions of lost people
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- Are searching for hope and truth.
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- Through "pathway to victory,"
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- God's word is reaching into homes across america
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- And around the world,
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- But there are still so many who haven't heard
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- The saving message of jesus christ.
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- With the life-changing power of the cross.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- A few years ago,
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- Our nation was shocked when three florida teenagers
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- Brutally murdered three individuals.
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- They didn't use guns or knives,
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- There were no blood stains on their clothes
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- After the murder.
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- In fact, they weren't even present
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- When their victims were killed, but they were responsible.
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- As a prank, these teenagers had removed the stop signs
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- From a four-way intersection
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- And the result was the motorist accelerated
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- When they should have stopped.
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- The result was a fiery collision
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- That claimed the lives of three innocent people.
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- You know today we have people in our world
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- Who are trying to remove the stop signs
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- That god has put into effect for our protection,
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- And they really don't mean any harm by it.
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- They're just trying to have fun.
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- But whenever you go forward,
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- When god says, stop,
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- Whenever you say yes to the things god has said no to,
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- The results can be just as catastrophic
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- As a fiery automobile crash.
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- And today we're going to look at two stop signs
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- God has put into effect to protect us physically,
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- Emotionally, and spiritually.
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- If you have your bibles,
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- I want you to turn to hebrews 13
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- As we talk about detours that destroy.
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- Now we're coming to the close
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- Of our study in hebrews next week,
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- But as we do so, let me remind you,
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- Especially to understand these verses
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- Of the context of this passage.
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- Remember this letter to the hebrews
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- Was written to a group of new christians.
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- They were jewish christians
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- Who were coming under persecution for their faith in christ,
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- And as a result,
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- They were considering giving up their christian faith
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- And going back into judaism
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- And the writer says,
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- "why in the world would you ever want to do that?
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- Jesus christ is the superior priest
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- Who's offered a superior sacrifice
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- To obtain a superior salvation.
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- Why would you ever give that up?"
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- That's the theme of the book.
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- And for the first really 11 chapters of hebrews,
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- The writer is explaining why jesus is superior
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- To every element of judaism.
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- The first 11 chapters are doctrinal in their theme,
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- But when we come to chapter 12,
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- We come to the big pivot in the book of hebrews.
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- It begins with that word "therefore,"
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- And that word therefore links us
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- Into the practical application
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- That we find in chapters 12 and 13.
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- "therefore," the writer says,
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- "since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
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- Let us lay aside every encumbrance or wait
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- And let us lay aside the sin what so easily entangles us
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- And let us run with endurance the race
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- That is set before us fixing our eyes on jesus,
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- The author, the finisher of our faith."
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- The image here is of a race.
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- You're in a race and you don't stop.
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- You keep your eyes on the finish line.
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- You keep your eyes on jesus christ
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- Who will reward you one day for your faithfulness.
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- That's the image he's using here.
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- Now let's continue that metaphor,
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- That imagery for just a moment more.
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- Let's imagine you're in a foot race.
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- The stadium is packed with people cheering you on.
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- It's a hot july day in dallas, 115 degrees.
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- You're exhausted as you round the bend
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- For the final lap of that race,
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- You're hot, you're fatigued,
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- And as you have your eyes on the finish line,
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- You can't help but look over to the side
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- And you see a person on the side of the track
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- Who's motioning for you with one hand,
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- While in the other hand
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- He has lifted up a pitcher of iced tea.
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- You're tempted, you are thinking about going off the track
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- To satisfy your thirst.
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- Your coach sees what's about to happen.
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- He yells, "no, no, no."
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- So what do you do?
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- Do you obey your coach or do you follow your desires?
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- Now that's the image of what we're going to look at
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- In chapter 13.
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- The writer says, as you run this race the christian life,
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- There are two detours that will get you off track
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- In your relationship with god
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- And will disqualify you from the race.
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- What are those two detours
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- That will destroy your relationship with god?
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- Detour number one is immorality.
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- Immorality.
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- You know, to talk about the rising divorce statistics
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- In our country, it seems trite,
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- But you know we see those statistics walking around us
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- Everywhere we look,
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- Even in the hallways of first baptist church in dallas.
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- Let me tell you what i see as a pastor,
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- And the reason this concerns me
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- Is our church is no stronger
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- Than the families that make up our church.
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- Let me tell you what i see from my perspective as pastor.
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- I see single adults who profess to be christians
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- Completely disregarding god's commands for purity
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- And living together without any thought about it whatsoever.
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- I see men and women married
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- Who are engaging in immoral adulterous relationships
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- As if god has blinders on
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- And he can't see or doesn't care about what they're doing.
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- I see couples in our church who are divorcing
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- Just about as the same rate as unbelievers do.
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- The reason, there's no biblical reason for the divorce,
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- They're not happy, they're not happy,
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- As if god is more concerned about their happiness
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- Than he is about their obedience to him.
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- The ironic result is when they disobey god,
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- It doesn't lead to happiness,
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- It leads to despair, it leads to loneliness,
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- Leads even sometimes to suicide.
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- The same attack on the family that is going on
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- In the 21st century was going on in the first century
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- In the church of the first century
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- And that's why the writer of hebrews says,
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- Be careful of immorality.
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- Verse four of hebrews 13, he says,
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- "marriage is to be held in honor among all,
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- And the marriage bed is to be undefiled.
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- For fornicators and adulterers,
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- God will judge."
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- In this simple but profound verse,
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- I see three secrets for saying no to immorality
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- That detours you in your relationship with god.
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- Notice the three commands here.
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- First of all, revere the concept of marriage.
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- Revere the concept of marriage.
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- He says, "marriage should be held in honor."
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- You know, amazingly in the first century like today,
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- There are some people who either felt like
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- Marriage was too good for them
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- Or they felt like they were too good for marriage
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- And say, what are you talking about?
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- Well, in the first century there was a group of people
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- Called the ascetics who were teaching that really
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- If you're going to be holy in your relationship with god,
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- You shouldn't marry, you shouldn't satisfy that desire
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- To be married, that somehow going unmarried
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- Will make you more holy before god.
- 00:10:11.167 --> 00:10:14.470
- And paul addressed that in 1 timothy 4:3
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- When he talked about false teachers who forbid marriage
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- And advocate abstaining from certain foods,
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- Which in fact god has created to be joyfully received
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- By those who know and believe the truth.
- 00:10:26.782 --> 00:10:29.518
- Anytime you see teachers who talk about abstaining
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- From things that god has approved of,
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- You need to stay away from that kind of teaching.
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- It was going on in the first century,
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- It's going on today.
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- There's certain cults, even christian cults who say,
- 00:10:40.663 --> 00:10:42.998
- Well, you know, if you really want to be holy,
- 00:10:42.998 --> 00:10:45.401
- You know, marriage probably isn't the right thing to do.
- 00:10:45.401 --> 00:10:47.803
- You need to remain single.
- 00:10:47.803 --> 00:10:49.271
- No, god's the one who created the idea of marriage
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- And that's why marriage ought to be held in honor.
- 00:10:55.578 --> 00:10:58.814
- What is god's concept of marriage?
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- Turn over to matthew 19 4:6,
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- Matthew 19 4:6.
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- Jesus said the whole question of divorce
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- Can be settled when you go back
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- To god's original plan for marriage.
- 00:11:11.927 --> 00:11:14.663
- And in verse four, he goes back to genesis two
- 00:11:14.663 --> 00:11:17.366
- Where it all started and said, have you not read
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- That he who created them from the beginning
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- Made them male and female.
- 00:11:24.707 --> 00:11:28.010
- By the way, the whole question of gender identity
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- Is answered right here.
- 00:11:33.282 --> 00:11:35.084
- God made them male or female,
- 00:11:35.718 --> 00:11:39.288
- He didn't make them male or female or question mark.
- 00:11:39.288 --> 00:11:43.225
- We do not choose our gender.
- 00:11:43.225 --> 00:11:45.494
- God chose it for us.
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- He's the one who has made us male or female
- 00:11:47.730 --> 00:11:51.934
- And it's just so interesting to me.
- 00:11:51.934 --> 00:11:54.003
- People on the left who accuse us christians
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- As being antiscience when it comes to gender,
- 00:11:56.338 --> 00:11:59.909
- They're the ones who are antiscience.
- 00:11:59.909 --> 00:12:02.711
- A person's gender is not a matter of his feelings,
- 00:12:02.711 --> 00:12:05.815
- It's a matter of his chromosomes.
- 00:12:05.815 --> 00:12:08.050
- Your gender is assigned to you by god,
- 00:12:08.050 --> 00:12:11.887
- But that's not the reason jesus said this.
- 00:12:11.887 --> 00:12:14.824
- The real key to this is look back at the beginning.
- 00:12:14.824 --> 00:12:17.760
- When god created the first man and first woman,
- 00:12:17.760 --> 00:12:21.096
- He created one man, adam and one woman, eve.
- 00:12:21.096 --> 00:12:26.435
- There was no steve or jennifer or anybody else.
- 00:12:27.436 --> 00:12:30.206
- It was one man and one woman.
- 00:12:30.206 --> 00:12:32.041
- The key here is the singular nature
- 00:12:32.041 --> 00:12:34.076
- Of this male and female,
- 00:12:34.076 --> 00:12:36.879
- And he said, for this reason,
- 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:38.781
- A man shall leave his father and mother
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- And then the two shall become one flesh.
- 00:12:41.083 --> 00:12:44.854
- Listen, god says, i'm giving you the gift of sex,
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- But here's how it's to be operated.
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- It is between a man and a woman
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- In the security of the marriage relationship.
- 00:12:54.663 --> 00:12:57.499
- That's what god designed.
- 00:12:57.499 --> 00:12:59.602
- One man, one woman in a lifetime relationship.
- 00:12:59.602 --> 00:13:03.706
- And any question you have about divorce
- 00:13:03.706 --> 00:13:06.775
- Or adultery or homosexuality,
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- All you have to do is go back
- 00:13:09.111 --> 00:13:10.379
- And look at what god's original plan was.
- 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:13.415
- I hear all the time, i used to debate people
- 00:13:13.415 --> 00:13:15.551
- On tv about this all the time.
- 00:13:15.551 --> 00:13:16.986
- It doesn't come up much anymore,
- 00:13:16.986 --> 00:13:18.787
- But it used to about homosexuality.
- 00:13:18.787 --> 00:13:20.155
- They said, "well, you know,
- 00:13:20.155 --> 00:13:21.423
- Jesus never talked about homosexuality."
- 00:13:21.423 --> 00:13:24.827
- Yes, he did.
- 00:13:24.827 --> 00:13:26.328
- He's talked about it right here.
- 00:13:26.328 --> 00:13:28.197
- Now we try to change the definition of marriage.
- 00:13:28.197 --> 00:13:30.432
- In 2015, the supreme court said,
- 00:13:30.432 --> 00:13:32.434
- "hey, we don't like that restriction.
- 00:13:32.434 --> 00:13:35.070
- We don't like that stop sign.
- 00:13:35.070 --> 00:13:36.972
- We're going to expand marriage.
- 00:13:36.972 --> 00:13:38.540
- We're going to say marriage is basically whatever you want
- 00:13:38.540 --> 00:13:41.110
- It to be.
- 00:13:41.110 --> 00:13:42.044
- Two men, two women, that's fine.
- 00:13:42.044 --> 00:13:44.013
- That can be marriage."
- 00:13:44.013 --> 00:13:46.148
- Listen, the highest court in the land,
- 00:13:46.148 --> 00:13:48.150
- The supreme court may try to change
- 00:13:48.150 --> 00:13:49.852
- The definition of marriage,
- 00:13:49.852 --> 00:13:51.420
- But guess what the judge of all the universe has said no.
- 00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:54.857
- He said marriage is between a man and a woman,
- 00:13:54.857 --> 00:13:57.993
- And as the psalm has said,
- 00:13:57.993 --> 00:13:59.295
- "thy word is settled in heaven forever.
- 00:13:59.295 --> 00:14:02.798
- Oh god, we dare not bless what god has condemned."
- 00:14:02.798 --> 00:14:07.169
- Any deviation from that pattern is against god's word.
- 00:14:07.169 --> 00:14:12.508
- We need to revere the concept of marriage.
- 00:14:13.409 --> 00:14:14.910
- Secondly, if you're going to stay away from immorality,
- 00:14:14.910 --> 00:14:17.780
- Renew your commitment to your own marriage,
- 00:14:17.780 --> 00:14:23.852
- He says, "let the marriage bed be undefiled."
- 00:14:21.517 --> 00:14:28.557
- Now that word undefiled literally means
- 00:14:28.557 --> 00:14:31.527
- Free from contamination.
- 00:14:31.527 --> 00:14:34.596
- What does that mean?
- 00:14:35.064 --> 00:14:36.565
- Your marriage bed free from contamination?
- 00:14:36.565 --> 00:14:39.268
- Well, the next phrase gives us a clue.
- 00:14:39.268 --> 00:14:41.203
- "for fornicators and adulterers,
- 00:14:41.203 --> 00:14:44.974
- The lord will judge."
- 00:14:44.974 --> 00:14:47.142
- Here are the two possible ways
- 00:14:47.142 --> 00:14:49.244
- That you can defile the marriage bed.
- 00:14:49.244 --> 00:14:53.248
- One is through fornication.
- 00:14:53.248 --> 00:14:55.818
- That is you come to the marriage relationship
- 00:14:55.818 --> 00:14:59.188
- Already contaminated, defiled.
- 00:14:59.188 --> 00:15:03.158
- That's what fornication refers to.
- 00:15:03.158 --> 00:15:04.927
- Fornication in the bible refers to sex before marriage,
- 00:15:04.927 --> 00:15:09.865
- Sex before marriage.
- 00:15:09.865 --> 00:15:12.001
- Follow what god says.
- 00:15:12.001 --> 00:15:13.369
- He's put that stop sign no sex outside of marriage,
- 00:15:13.369 --> 00:15:17.106
- Not for his benefit, but for your benefit.
- 00:15:17.106 --> 00:15:20.142
- He's not trying to restrict you from happiness.
- 00:15:20.142 --> 00:15:22.811
- He's trying to enhance your happiness.
- 00:15:22.811 --> 00:15:25.814
- So he says, don't engage in fornication.
- 00:15:25.814 --> 00:15:29.051
- That's one way you defile the marriage bed.
- 00:15:29.051 --> 00:15:32.721
- There's another way though that you do it,
- 00:15:32.721 --> 00:15:34.523
- And that is through adultery after you're married,
- 00:15:34.523 --> 00:15:37.059
- By engaging in other extramarital relationships,
- 00:15:37.059 --> 00:15:42.431
- And the bible says, don't do that.
- 00:15:43.165 --> 00:15:44.833
- Don't get involved in sex outside
- 00:15:44.833 --> 00:15:47.503
- The marriage relationship,
- 00:15:47.503 --> 00:15:50.005
- And that means you have to continually,
- 00:15:50.005 --> 00:15:53.208
- Continually renew your commitment to your mate
- 00:15:53.208 --> 00:15:56.979
- And a sexual purity inside marriage.
- 00:15:56.979 --> 00:16:00.582
- You know there's an old arabian proverb that says,
- 00:16:00.582 --> 00:16:04.887
- Marriage begins with a prince, kissing an angel
- 00:16:04.887 --> 00:16:08.690
- And ends with an old baldheaded man
- 00:16:09.425 --> 00:16:12.761
- Looking across the table at a fat lady.
- 00:16:12.761 --> 00:16:16.498
- Don't write me about that.
- 00:16:17.066 --> 00:16:18.367
- That's the arabs who came up with it.
- 00:16:18.367 --> 00:16:20.202
- That's an arab proverb, not my proverb,
- 00:16:20.202 --> 00:16:23.939
- But the truth is, it takes more than sexual passion
- 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:28.644
- And romance to keep a marriage together.
- 00:16:28.644 --> 00:16:31.146
- Those things are important, yes,
- 00:16:31.146 --> 00:16:33.649
- But they're not always enough.
- 00:16:33.649 --> 00:16:36.018
- It takes commitment.
- 00:16:36.018 --> 00:16:38.220
- Commitment to your marriage vows and to your mate.
- 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:41.657
- I remember performing the funeral service for a woman
- 00:16:42.758 --> 00:16:45.527
- Who had been married to the same man for 58 years.
- 00:16:45.527 --> 00:16:50.833
- During the last 10 years of her life, she wore a colostomy.
- 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:55.904
- For the final five years of her life,
- 00:16:56.705 --> 00:16:58.273
- She was in a nursing home and her husband watched over her
- 00:16:58.273 --> 00:17:01.376
- And took care of her five hours every day.
- 00:17:01.376 --> 00:17:05.347
- What is it that kept that marriage together?
- 00:17:06.248 --> 00:17:09.485
- It wasn't sexual passion,
- 00:17:09.485 --> 00:17:11.653
- It wasn't romance in the end,
- 00:17:11.653 --> 00:17:13.789
- It was the bedrock commitment
- 00:17:13.789 --> 00:17:15.891
- They had made to one another.
- 00:17:15.891 --> 00:17:18.527
- And i remember at her memorial service,
- 00:17:18.527 --> 00:17:20.429
- A man was with me, another pastor
- 00:17:20.429 --> 00:17:23.499
- Participating in the service.
- 00:17:23.499 --> 00:17:25.000
- I'll never forget what he said,
- 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:27.302
- He said, "in my life,
- 00:17:27.302 --> 00:17:28.770
- I've been to many promise keepers men's conferences
- 00:17:28.770 --> 00:17:31.773
- Where i've heard man after man stand up
- 00:17:31.773 --> 00:17:34.109
- And talk about remaining faithful to his wife,
- 00:17:34.109 --> 00:17:38.046
- But watching this husband take care of his wife
- 00:17:39.047 --> 00:17:41.917
- For 10 years is the best promise keepers conference
- 00:17:41.917 --> 00:17:46.355
- I've ever attended.
- 00:17:46.355 --> 00:17:47.990
- The bible says, if you're going to say no to immorality,
- 00:17:49.124 --> 00:17:53.328
- You need to renew your commitment to your mate
- 00:17:53.328 --> 00:17:56.632
- And to sexual purity.
- 00:17:56.632 --> 00:17:59.134
- Thirdly, how do you stay sexually pure?
- 00:17:59.134 --> 00:18:03.472
- How do you avoid the trap of immorality?
- 00:18:03.472 --> 00:18:06.341
- Thirdly, realize the consequences of immorality.
- 00:18:06.341 --> 00:18:11.013
- Realize the consequences of immorality
- 00:18:11.013 --> 00:18:13.482
- For fornicators and adulterers, god will judge.
- 00:18:13.482 --> 00:18:18.387
- Remember, there are consequences for immorality.
- 00:18:18.387 --> 00:18:22.224
- God will judge.
- 00:18:22.224 --> 00:18:24.092
- Now, he's not talking about the hell
- 00:18:24.092 --> 00:18:25.627
- And fire brimstone kind of judgment.
- 00:18:25.627 --> 00:18:27.729
- That's a real judgment for non-christians,
- 00:18:27.729 --> 00:18:31.133
- But he's talking about there's a judgment for christians
- 00:18:31.133 --> 00:18:34.169
- Who fall into fornication
- 00:18:34.169 --> 00:18:36.972
- Or into any other type of immorality.
- 00:18:36.972 --> 00:18:40.809
- You know, today the non-christian says,
- 00:18:40.809 --> 00:18:42.878
- "oh, there's nothing wrong with sex.
- 00:18:42.878 --> 00:18:44.913
- It's just a natural bodily function
- 00:18:44.913 --> 00:18:47.883
- That needs to be satisfied,
- 00:18:47.883 --> 00:18:49.885
- Like getting thirsty or getting hungry."
- 00:18:49.885 --> 00:18:51.787
- In fact, one unbeliever wrote quote,
- 00:18:51.787 --> 00:18:53.622
- "sex is a function of the body,
- 00:18:53.622 --> 00:18:55.424
- A drive which man shares with animals,
- 00:18:55.424 --> 00:18:58.327
- Like eating, drinking, and sleeping.
- 00:18:58.327 --> 00:19:00.662
- It's a physical demand that must be satisfied.
- 00:19:00.662 --> 00:19:04.233
- If you don't satisfy it, you will have all sorts
- 00:19:04.233 --> 00:19:06.501
- Of neuroses and repressive psychoses."
- 00:19:06.501 --> 00:19:10.606
- The writer of hebrews and god himself says,
- 00:19:11.540 --> 00:19:14.843
- Sex is more than just a physical act.
- 00:19:14.843 --> 00:19:19.414
- It is an emotional, it is a spiritual act,
- 00:19:19.414 --> 00:19:22.884
- And that's why paul said in 1 corinthians 6:18,
- 00:19:22.884 --> 00:19:25.821
- "flee immorality for every other sin
- 00:19:25.821 --> 00:19:29.258
- That a man commits is outside the body,
- 00:19:29.258 --> 00:19:31.960
- But an immoral man sins against his own body."
- 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:35.664
- Listen, all sin is sin.
- 00:19:36.164 --> 00:19:37.699
- I understand that,
- 00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:38.934
- But some sins have greater consequences
- 00:19:38.934 --> 00:19:41.436
- Than other sins do.
- 00:19:41.436 --> 00:19:43.238
- And when you join yourself to somebody
- 00:19:43.238 --> 00:19:45.607
- You're not married to,
- 00:19:45.607 --> 00:19:46.908
- You're not just joining your bodies together,
- 00:19:46.908 --> 00:19:49.211
- You're joining your souls and your spirit together as well,
- 00:19:49.211 --> 00:19:52.981
- And it can have devastating consequences.
- 00:19:52.981 --> 00:19:56.184
- Back in 1992, i was reading charles swindoll's newsletter
- 00:19:57.352 --> 00:20:02.557
- To his church congregation in fullerton, california.
- 00:20:03.625 --> 00:20:06.762
- I used to read it every week
- 00:20:06.762 --> 00:20:08.063
- He would write a pastor's pen like i do,
- 00:20:08.063 --> 00:20:11.466
- And there's one of those issues
- 00:20:11.466 --> 00:20:12.934
- That really caught my attention.
- 00:20:12.934 --> 00:20:14.503
- He was talking about the consequences
- 00:20:14.503 --> 00:20:17.773
- Of sexual immorality
- 00:20:17.773 --> 00:20:20.409
- And it made such an impression on me,
- 00:20:20.409 --> 00:20:21.877
- I clipped it out and kept it in my file
- 00:20:21.877 --> 00:20:24.413
- All of these years.
- 00:20:24.413 --> 00:20:26.682
- I'm talking to some of you
- 00:20:26.682 --> 00:20:27.816
- In this congregation right now,
- 00:20:27.816 --> 00:20:29.384
- Some of you watching or listening to this message.
- 00:20:29.384 --> 00:20:32.087
- Right now, you're involved a secret,
- 00:20:32.087 --> 00:20:35.857
- Immoral relationship, or maybe you're just on the edge
- 00:20:35.857 --> 00:20:41.563
- About to fall into such a relationship.
- 00:20:42.397 --> 00:20:45.500
- Before you go any further, i want you to listen carefully
- 00:20:46.635 --> 00:20:51.406
- To the very real potential consequences
- 00:20:51.406 --> 00:20:54.376
- Of that immorality.
- 00:20:54.376 --> 00:20:56.511
- Number one, the total devastation
- 00:20:56.511 --> 00:20:58.747
- That will bring to your children, their growth, innocence,
- 00:20:58.747 --> 00:21:02.951
- Trust, and healthy outlook on life
- 00:21:02.951 --> 00:21:05.620
- Will be permanently damaged.
- 00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:08.023
- The embarrassment of facing other christians
- 00:21:08.924 --> 00:21:11.059
- Who once appreciated you,
- 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:12.894
- Respected you, and trusted you will be overwhelming.
- 00:21:12.894 --> 00:21:17.099
- If you are engaged in the lord's work,
- 00:21:17.933 --> 00:21:19.868
- You will suffer the immediate loss of your job
- 00:21:19.868 --> 00:21:22.971
- And the support of those with whom you work.
- 00:21:22.971 --> 00:21:25.807
- The dark shadow will accompany you
- 00:21:25.807 --> 00:21:28.009
- Everywhere and forever.
- 00:21:28.009 --> 00:21:31.146
- Disillusionment and anger will spread rapidly
- 00:21:32.114 --> 00:21:34.349
- Among those to whom you once ministered.
- 00:21:34.349 --> 00:21:36.885
- Your fall will give others license to do the same.
- 00:21:37.886 --> 00:21:41.990
- Your mate will immediately be isolated
- 00:21:42.758 --> 00:21:45.127
- By most of those who once stood near.
- 00:21:45.127 --> 00:21:48.397
- Guilt, shame, and rejection,
- 00:21:48.397 --> 00:21:50.465
- He or she is sure to feel,
- 00:21:50.465 --> 00:21:52.801
- Will accompany the anguish of loneliness.
- 00:21:52.801 --> 00:21:56.171
- The inner peace you once enjoyed will be gone forever.
- 00:21:56.171 --> 00:22:01.309
- You will set in motion a generational chain reaction.
- 00:22:02.344 --> 00:22:05.046
- You won't be able to stop it
- 00:22:05.046 --> 00:22:06.715
- No matter how hard you try.
- 00:22:06.715 --> 00:22:08.784
- The heartache you will cause to your parents, your family,
- 00:22:09.951 --> 00:22:14.222
- Your peers, your mentors,
- 00:22:14.222 --> 00:22:16.525
- And your disciples will be indescribable.
- 00:22:16.525 --> 00:22:19.494
- You will never be able to erase your fall
- 00:22:20.362 --> 00:22:23.365
- From your or other people's mind.
- 00:22:23.365 --> 00:22:26.101
- As solomon wrote, your reproach will not be blotted out.
- 00:22:26.101 --> 00:22:31.440
- This will indelibly remain etched on your life's record.
- 00:22:32.574 --> 00:22:35.844
- The name of jesus christ whom you once honored
- 00:22:36.778 --> 00:22:39.881
- Will be tarnished,
- 00:22:39.881 --> 00:22:41.349
- Giving the enemies of the faith
- 00:22:41.349 --> 00:22:43.151
- Further reason to sneer and jeer.
- 00:22:43.151 --> 00:22:46.321
- Your mate will feel betrayed
- 00:22:46.922 --> 00:22:49.257
- And can never again say that you are a model of fidelity.
- 00:22:49.257 --> 00:22:53.361
- Suspicions will rob her or him of trust.
- 00:22:53.361 --> 00:22:56.832
- Your escapades will introduce to your life
- 00:22:57.732 --> 00:23:00.635
- And your mate's life,
- 00:23:00.635 --> 00:23:02.204
- The very real probability of sexually transmitted disease.
- 00:23:02.204 --> 00:23:07.542
- And then swindoll closes his article with these words.
- 00:23:08.643 --> 00:23:11.980
- "solomon was right.
- 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:14.382
- The way of the transgressor is hard.
- 00:23:14.382 --> 00:23:18.854
- Forgiveness may come, the affair may end.
- 00:23:18.854 --> 00:23:23.024
- Restoration to fellowship may occur,
- 00:23:23.024 --> 00:23:26.461
- But these consequences will never go away."
- 00:23:26.461 --> 00:23:33.301
- Avoid the detour of immorality.
- 00:23:33.935 --> 00:23:38.206
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:38.540 --> 00:23:42.544
- God provides these clear cut guidelines
- 00:23:43.378 --> 00:23:46.381
- So that his children don't get hurt.
- 00:23:46.381 --> 00:23:49.150
- He loves us and i hope you'll tune in again tomorrow
- 00:23:49.150 --> 00:23:52.354
- Because there's much more i want to show you
- 00:23:52.354 --> 00:23:54.689
- In this 13th chapter of hebrews.
- 00:23:54.689 --> 00:23:57.926
- Now, before our time is up for today,
- 00:23:57.926 --> 00:23:59.628
- Let me take a moment to reinforce the impact
- 00:23:59.628 --> 00:24:02.330
- Of your financial partnership
- 00:24:02.330 --> 00:24:04.399
- With "pathway to victory."
- 00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:06.034
- Not long ago i received a note from letha in arkansas
- 00:24:06.034 --> 00:24:09.771
- And she wrote, "pastor, i just started listening
- 00:24:09.771 --> 00:24:12.741
- To 'pathway to victory' on radio.
- 00:24:12.741 --> 00:24:15.076
- God has used your program to bring me back to him
- 00:24:15.076 --> 00:24:18.113
- After being away for so long.
- 00:24:18.113 --> 00:24:20.649
- I thank you for allowing god to work
- 00:24:20.649 --> 00:24:23.051
- Through your teaching."
- 00:24:23.051 --> 00:24:25.120
- Well, the bible teaching letha hears
- 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:27.255
- On "pathway to victory" may feature my voice,
- 00:24:27.255 --> 00:24:30.425
- But it's your generous support
- 00:24:30.425 --> 00:24:32.060
- That takes this program to places
- 00:24:32.060 --> 00:24:34.229
- Like arkansas and beyond.
- 00:24:34.229 --> 00:24:36.765
- So if you're among those who give,
- 00:24:36.765 --> 00:24:38.867
- Please keep up the good work.
- 00:24:38.867 --> 00:24:41.202
- Your generous giving is truly making a difference.
- 00:24:41.202 --> 00:24:44.940
- Now stay right there.
- 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:46.374
- I'll be back in just a moment with one final word.
- 00:24:46.374 --> 00:24:49.277
- Dr. robert jeffress has written a book
- 00:24:50.111 --> 00:24:51.680
- To help you rediscover the joy of time with god.
- 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:55.050
- It's called "spiritual essentials."
- 00:24:55.050 --> 00:24:57.285
- In "spiritual essentials," i share three simple,
- 00:24:57.285 --> 00:25:00.789
- Deeply personal ways you can make god's word
- 00:25:00.789 --> 00:25:03.358
- A meaningful part of your everyday life,
- 00:25:03.358 --> 00:25:06.595
- Including a practical plan
- 00:25:06.595 --> 00:25:08.330
- To help you get started today.
- 00:25:08.330 --> 00:25:10.865
- These are the same strategies
- 00:25:10.865 --> 00:25:12.467
- I use in my own bible study.
- 00:25:12.467 --> 00:25:14.936
- I'll also show you how to pray with purpose
- 00:25:14.936 --> 00:25:17.505
- And confidence for your children and grandchildren.
- 00:25:17.505 --> 00:25:21.209
- Whether you've been walking with god for decades
- 00:25:21.209 --> 00:25:23.278
- Or you're just getting started,
- 00:25:23.278 --> 00:25:24.613
- "spiritual essentials" will help you get back
- 00:25:24.613 --> 00:25:26.881
- To the basics of your faith
- 00:25:26.881 --> 00:25:28.550
- And experience god's presence in a fresh new way.
- 00:25:28.550 --> 00:25:32.387
- Request your copy of "spiritual essentials"
- 00:25:32.387 --> 00:25:34.723
- When you give a generous gift
- 00:25:34.723 --> 00:25:36.191
- To support the ministry of "pathway to victory."
- 00:25:36.191 --> 00:25:38.860
- And when you give $50 or more,
- 00:25:38.860 --> 00:25:40.996
- We'll also send you the complete "spiritual fitness"
- 00:25:40.996 --> 00:25:43.932
- Teaching series on both cd and dvd.
- 00:25:43.932 --> 00:25:46.901
- When we go through fiery problems in our life,
- 00:25:46.901 --> 00:25:50.939
- Sometimes those problems can strengthen us,
- 00:25:50.939 --> 00:25:55.343
- But sometimes they can cause our faith to shatter.
- 00:25:55.343 --> 00:25:58.813
- Thank you for giving generously
- 00:25:58.813 --> 00:26:00.448
- To "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:00.448 --> 00:26:02.150
- Every day, your support makes it possible
- 00:26:02.150 --> 00:26:04.419
- To reach people across the nation and around the world
- 00:26:04.419 --> 00:26:07.355
- With the practical life-changing truth of god's word,
- 00:26:07.355 --> 00:26:11.059
- Transforming lives, strengthening families,
- 00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:13.995
- And pointing a lost world toward hope
- 00:26:13.995 --> 00:26:16.798
- In jesus christ.
- 00:26:16.798 --> 00:26:20.335
- The sins of immorality and materialism
- 00:26:21.136 --> 00:26:23.872
- Have taken down many christians over the years
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- And many more will succumb.
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- But scripture clearly lays out a plan for success
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- In avoiding these dangerous traps.
- 00:26:32.847 --> 00:26:35.617
- Today we looked at three secrets
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- For saying no to immorality,
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- And next time we'll look at three commands
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- For avoiding the detour of materialism.
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- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
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- In our series "spiritual fitness."
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- A content person is one who is self-contained.
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- That is his happiness in life,
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- His joy, his satisfaction
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- Is not tied to the dow jones industrial average.
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- It's not tied to the square footage of his home.
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- It's not tied or dependent upon
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- The kind of car he drives.
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- He's not looking to external things to fill him up.
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- Set your dvr and join us next time
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- For part two of the message "detours that destroy,"
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- Here on "pathway to victory."
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